Interactive Brokers
td ameritrade
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Overview
Interactive Brokers was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in United States, while td ameritrade was established in 2016 and is based in Malta. Interactive Brokers holds licences including the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL: 453554) and is a participant of ASX, while td ameritrade is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Interactive Brokers serves 1,000,000+ clients worldwide; td ameritrade has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Interactive Brokers and $250 at td ameritrade.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $250 |
| Regulation | the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL: 453554) and is a participant of ASX, ASX 24 and Chi-X Australia. Is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and Member - Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA register entry number 208159. Is regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). Is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI, reference number C423427). Is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Hungary (Magyar Nemzeti Bank) under no. H-EN-III-623/2020. Is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. Is a member of NSE, BSE, SEBI. Regn. No. SEBI Registration No. INZ000217730; NSDL: IN-DP-NSDL-301-2008. CIN-U67120MH2007FTC170004. Is regulated by Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Registration No.187). Is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (Licence No. CMS100917). | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F319 |
| Founded | 1977 | 2016 |
| Country | United States | Malta |
| Clients | 1,000,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Interactive Brokers and td ameritrade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Interactive Brokers has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $250 at td ameritrade). Interactive Brokers charges withdrawal fees while td ameritrade does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Overall, Interactive Brokers scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Interactive Brokers offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, a proprietary platform, while td ameritrade supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Interactive Brokers supports social and copy trading features, which td ameritrade does not offer. Interactive Brokers edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Web Trader, NinjaTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Interactive Brokers and td ameritrade compare. Interactive Brokers runs regular live webinars; td ameritrade does not. Interactive Brokers has a video library; td ameritrade does not. Interactive Brokers publishes daily market commentary; td ameritrade does not. Interactive Brokers integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist); td ameritrade does not. Interactive Brokers maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Interactive Brokers scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Interactive Brokers accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while td ameritrade supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). td ameritrade uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. td ameritrade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Interactive Brokers and td ameritrade offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Interactive Brokers supports 2 languages and td ameritrade supports 8, giving td ameritrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |